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Archive 2021 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #1 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

While this may be a bit redundant with respect to the "Z-images" and Specific Lens threads, I thought it might be valuable to start a showcase of wildlife image possibilities when using a Z-system cameras. This thread has the potential to be a "one stop shop" for those wondering if the Z-cameras can be used when pursuing wildlife.

As a Nikon DSLR/Z Mirrorless shooter, I've shot most of my wildlife with a D500 or D850, but this pattern is about to change. While I still have a D500, I am committing my spring and summer to the Z bodies. My goal is to find the strengths and limits to see if I can live a DSLR free life.

I'll start us off with a variety pack of images and my first user tip...
Tip #1: Decide on your preferred 3 or 4 AF configurations, and use custom functions to toggle-off those configurations you will not use. By doing this, you can speed up the switch between the most useful AF areas. I've got it down to only 4 possibilities. With little practice, I can toggle quickly between single spot, dynamic, wide small, and wide large. I will likely dump the wild large and just work with the three. I rarely used anything other than spot, dynamic, or group on my DSLRs... To me, seeing all of the other choices just slows me down.

regards,
bruce

May 31, 2021 at 07:43 PM

suteetat
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p.1 #2 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Looking forward to hear your impression, Bruce. I used Z7/Z7ii a little bit for birds but not much opportunity lately. If travel is back to near normal next year, I think plan to go to Botswana with Z9 + 600/4 and Z7 ii + 100-400. If there was no Covid, last year, it would have been D850 + 500/4e FL and A7r IV + 100-400GM for the trip. I hope Nikon won't disappoint with Z9 and 100-400

May 31, 2021 at 08:20 PM

mogul
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p.1 #3 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

A really nice selection but little that any camera with a proper lens could capture. Wait for the z9

May 31, 2021 at 08:22 PM

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #4 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

I hope that you get to Africa suteetat sooner than later. While I'd love to add Z9 (when it comes) to my bag, I doubt that it will happen in the near future. While I'd spend $6000 on a lens, I won't put that much money into a camera... I just can't afford to put that much of my photo/travel resources into something that will depreciate quickly in a year.
Part of my reasoning for making my move to mirrorless relates to a pair of projects that I am beginning here in the states. It is possible that I will be spending a number of days (and nights) in a blind with the hope of photographing timber wolves. Unlike the images people typically take in Yellowstone or Alaska, this photography will occur in pine forests and at forest edges. I've been scouting locations with trap cameras and have found a possible corridor. The work will require me to be invisible. The Z6ii will allow me to crank up the ISO and shoot without the Ker-clunk of the shutter. In addition, I've planned a trip to South Africa (summer '22) and will be shooting from a sunken blind at a water hole. Much of the photography will be at night, so the high ISO capabilities of the Z6 will be useful. If I am going to be successful with any of these projects, I've got to develop the muscle memory I've cultivated with my DSLRs...

Looking forward to seeing people's contributions to this thread!
bruce

May 31, 2021 at 08:34 PM

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #5 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

mogul wrote:
A really nice selection but little that any camera with a proper lens could capture. Wait for the z9

The Z9 will be too rich for my blood... I will need to wait for that tech to trickle down to a camera a teacher in the US can afford

DSLRs have been my crutch... I've not challenged myself to shoot much action with my mirrorless bodies because I've just grabbed the D500... we'll see how this experiment goes.
For the record, what you see here is what I shoot, so the tech in these bodies might be all that I need.

bruce

May 31, 2021 at 08:35 PM

suteetat
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p.1 #6 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

OwlsEyes wrote:
I hope that you get to Africa suteetat sooner than later. While I'd love to add Z9 (when it comes) to my bag, I doubt that it will happen in the near future. While I'd spend $6000 on a lens, I won't put that much money into a camera... I just can't afford to put that much of my photo/travel resources into something that will depreciate quickly in a year.
Part of my reasoning for making my move to mirrorless relates to a pair of projects that I am beginning here in the states. It is possible that I will...Show more →

Good luck on your South Africa trip. A friend also mentioned to me about a camp somewhere in South Africa with a sunken blind next to a waterhole but I can't remember the name right now. If everything goes as plan, I will start my trip in Cape Town at the end of May and go to Botswana from there. I was very tempted to stay at a camp in Botswana that also has a sunken blind next to a waterhole that came highly recommended by my agent but the rest of my friends are more of a casual photographers/travelers so I was vetoed

However, I do plan to go to Africa at least every other year if I can. I also found another group of friends that are much more serious into wildlife photography and plan quite a few trips with them for the next few years so whatever cameras and lens I ended up with, I should get some good use out of it.

May 31, 2021 at 09:17 PM

Kasper6188
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p.1 #7 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Oh yeaaa this is my kind of thread! I've been using the z7ii and various adapted lenses all spring/summer so far. Here are a few pics!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2m2WWLf]

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May 31, 2021 at 09:45 PM

binary visions
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p.1 #8 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

This thread is making me itch for the Z7 I have on backorder with B&H.

Come on... let's see a shipping notification... GIVE IT TO ME.

May 31, 2021 at 09:55 PM

Kasper6188
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p.1 #9 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

binary visions wrote:
This thread is making me itch for the Z7 I have on backorder with B&H.

Come on... let's see a shipping notification... GIVE IT TO ME.

I hope it comes quick! Like OwlsEyes said, if you're going to be shooting wildlife, it is indeed best to choose your few favorite af modes and learn to cycle through them quickly. Remove whichever you don't use when out shooting wildlife. The current Z bodies do have shortcomings for action, but can be worked around with a little effort. I personally prefer Nikon files and glass over the others, so I don't mind working a little harder for my shots. Enjoy the Z!

May 31, 2021 at 10:10 PM

urbanwild
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p.1 #10 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

OwlsEyes, those shots are all great, but that first shot is one that I could stare at for a very long time. I have the D500 and 200-500 but you have me interested in the 500 PF with that one.

Jun 01, 2021 at 01:36 AM

Lance B
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p.1 #11 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Some of these may seem easy enough to capture, but most of these small birds flit around like crazy and barely stay still for a moment. So, no matter what camera you use, they are difficult to capture even with a D850. However, you can still manage to get them with the Z7 or Z7II with a bit of patience, knowing your camera and a bit of skill.

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO450 500mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO800 500mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/4000sec, f5.6, ISO720 500mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/200sec, f5.6, ISO720 500mm

This guy was especially hard as he was constantly on the move chasing insects and always turning and moving. My friend couldn't get a shot with his Canon R5 and 300 f2.8 and he was standing right next to me! I got three all in different poses and thus the AF had to be working, where as his AF didn't ever lock on.

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/250sec, f5.6, ISO6400 500mm

Z7 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 2x TCIII, 1/400sec, f7.1, ISO1800 800mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO560 500mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO72 500mm

Z7 + 70-200 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/3200sec, f5.6, ISO450 280mm

Z7+ 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/200sec, f5, ISO160 800mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/3200sec, f5.6, ISO500 500mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/200sec, f5.6, ISO64 500mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/160sec, f6.3, ISO8000 500mm

This Albatross was shot through heavily tinted observational glass that my friend's Canon 5D MkIV could not focus to get any shots.

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/125sec, f6.3, ISO2500 500mm

Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO1100 500mm

Jun 01, 2021 at 03:27 AM

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #12 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

binary visions wrote:
This thread is making me itch for the Z7 I have on backorder with B&H.

Come on... let's see a shipping notification... GIVE IT TO ME.

So glad to see a bird photographer join in... it seems that whenever anyone begins the "Z-Downard Siral Z-DP

, it begins with... you can't reliable photograph birds in flight with a Z6/Z7 I or II... Your swallow shot suggests that this is possible if one studies their flight pattern and has the skill to follow the birds.

Lovely work throughout!

bruce

Jun 01, 2021 at 05:18 AM

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #13 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

urbanwild wrote:
OwlsEyes, those shots are all great, but that first shot is one that I could stare at for a very long time. I have the D500 and 200-500 but you have me interested in the 500 PF with that one.

Thank you for the kind comments. The photo was made during my first serious outing with the Z6 (version 1) in 2019 (pre-pandemic). I was in the Northwest tip of BC just south of Alaska. I was using a D500 and Z6 at the time. We were often so close to bears that I decided to shoot the D500 w/ a 70-200 and Z6 with the 500PF so I could get a little of the landscape around the bears... The light in that shot was fleeting... 10 minutes at most. I ripped a good series and ended up a few images in which the bear looked up from its smorgasbord of clams.

regards,
bruce

Jun 01, 2021 at 05:23 AM

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #14 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Great stuff (as always) Lance!
I was hoping you'd chime in, as your bird work is always so clean and rich with amazing color. One of these days I hope to be be
"Down Under" so I can see (and photograph?) those gorgeous fairy wrens.
The parrot in flight shot is absolutely beautiful. I rarely see photos of flying parrots... nicely done my friend.

regards,
bruce

Jun 01, 2021 at 05:29 AM

suteetat
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p.1 #15 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Jun 01, 2021 at 05:42 AM

chambeshi
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p.1 #16 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Jun 01, 2021 at 05:57 AM

mach250
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p.1 #17 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

OwlsEyes wrote:
If I am going to be successful with any of these projects, I've got to develop the muscle memory I've cultivated with my DSLRs...

This is part of my Z7ii uphill battle, every time I use it I catch myself pressing phantom buttons and then looking down to figure out what I'm trying to do.

Jun 01, 2021 at 06:05 AM

Lance B
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p.1 #18 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

OwlsEyes wrote:
Great stuff (as always) Lance!
I was hoping you'd chime in, as your bird work is always so clean and rich with amazing color. One of these days I hope to be be
"Down Under" so I can see (and photograph?) those gorgeous fairy wrens.
The parrot in flight shot is absolutely beautiful. I rarely see photos of flying parrots... nicely done my friend.

regards,
bruce

Thank you very much for your very kind and generous comments, Bruce. It means a lot coming from you.

Likewise your images. Excellent selection, love the 1st shot of the bear in the river and the newborn fawn getting a clean up from his mom. You got the mom looking at the camera as well!

If you ever come down under to Sydney, please look me up as I would love to have the honor of showing you round.

The parrot in flight is special for me as it is a Carnaby's Black Cockatoo which is endangered and is only found in a certain few areas of the very south west of Western Australia. I was lucky enough to see a small flock of them and get a number of shots.

Cheers,
Lance

Jun 01, 2021 at 05:32 PM

Venky
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p.1 #19 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Lance you outdo yourself every time. Thanks for sharing.

Venkat

Jun 01, 2021 at 06:04 PM

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #20 · Z-Cameras Wildlife Images and Tips Thread

Lance B wrote:
Thank you very much for your very kind and generous comments, Bruce. It means a lot coming from you.

Likewise your images. Excellent selection, love the 1st shot of the bear in the river and the newborn fawn getting a clean up from his mom. You got the mom looking at the camera as well!

If you ever come down under to Sydney, please look me up as I would love to have the honor of showing you round.

The parrot in flight is special for me as it is a Carnaby's Black Cockatoo which is endangered and is only found...Show more →

Thanks for the offer Lance. Once I retire, a month in Australia will be in my future. I appreciate the kind offer, will definitely take you up on it, and would gladly reciprocate if you ever find yourself near Minnesota.
As for my work, thanks for your kind comments...

bruce

Jun 01, 2021 at 07:23 PM

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